ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Ilia Ermakov – a 6-5 guard for CSKA Moscow II who's considered the top young prospect in Russia – has signed a Letter of Intent to join the St. Bonaventure men's basketball program.
Ermakov, 17, chose the Bonnies over multiple high-major college basketball programs.
He's playing this season with CSKA Moscow in the Russian Superleague, averaging 12.7 points, 4.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 31.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Ermakov became the first 17-year-old to be named to the Superleague First Team.
He has helped CSKA Moscow to a Superleague Finals berth following a 3-2 series win over Khimki. Ermakov shined for CSKA Moscow in the 95-85 series-clinching victory, registering 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Ilia was born in Kursk, Russia where he started playing basketball in second grade at the age of eight. His first club appearance came for Rusichi Kursk.
He and his mother Olga moved to Moscow in 2018 when Ilia was 11 after receiving an invitation to the CSKA Moscow Junior Program.
Ermakov joined the CSKA Youth Team in 2022 at the age of 14.
Ilia has won the Russian Junior and Youth Championships five times, garnering MVP accolades following three of those tournaments.
He is a member of the Russian U-20 National Team as well as the Senior Russian National Team.
What they're saying about Ilia Ermakov
Mark Schmidt, St. Bonaventure Head Men's Basketball Coach
"We are excited to welcome Ilia Ermakov to St. Bonaventure and can't wait for him to join us on the floor and in the classroom next year. As one of the most accomplished players in his country's recent history, Ilia is a point guard with all the attributes to become an outstanding playmaker for the Bonnies. Evaluating Ilia playing in an elite international league gave us the opportunity to see him competing – and often dominating --- older players in high-level, competitive environments and we believe that bodes well for his transition to Atlantic 10 Conference basketball.
Ilia makes mature reads on the floor, finishes with contact and completes scoring plays in crowded areas on the floor. He's excellent in facilitating and scoring in both transition and the half-court. He has also shown the ability to be a physical on-ball defender and he's often the first player to the ground for loose balls. Ilia has the ability to become an excellent three-point shooter, both on the catch and off the dribble. His competitive fire will be a catalyst for our program. Ilia comes out of a championship program in CSKA and we are eager for his winning pedigree to impact our program. I am truly excited for the opportunity to coach Ilia with the Bonnies."
Adrian Wojnarowski, St. Bonaventure Men's Basketball General Manager
"We are beyond thrilled to welcome Ilia Ermakov to St. Bonaventure University and our basketball program. Despite offers at the highest levels of the Power 4 conferences, Ilia chose our program and his decision reverberated throughout the basketball world. He's considered the best young prospect in Russia and perhaps the best point guard to emerge from the country in several years. Ilia is part of a recruiting class that represents our renewed determination to pursue championship-level talent with professional futures throughout the world.
Ilia is mature beyond his years as a playmaker and brings with him positional size, strength and savvy to go with his abilities as a passer, scorer, defender and leader. He had a historic season overseas this year, often dominating as a 17-year-old against men and leading his renowned CSKA team into the championship round with clutch play after clutch play. We are especially grateful to his representatives with BDA Management – Alex Karvanen and Niko Filipovich – who steadfastly believed that Coach Schmidt's track record of developing elite point guards is an ideal fit for Ilia's next chapter. Quite simply, we believe Ilia has the promise to eventually take his place among the very best point guards in the Atlantic 10 Conference."
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